the massive line snaked into the square. tens of thousands stood in the hot sun, clutching flags and photos, waiting hours to pay their respect controversial, former leader, fidel castro. >> it's important for people to be here and everybody is here. precisely because of what he said. >> you see soldiers crying, old ladies crying, men crying. >> reporter: at the top of each hour, the booms of 21-cannon salutes echo through havana during this official nine-day period of mourning. out of power for a decade now, in death as in life, his name freedom fighter. castro, the ruthless tyrant. the world that even some here still debate his legacy. >> love it or hate it, he was an incredible man. you can agree or not with him, but he was incredible. he did many, many things for cuba. >> reporter: castro rose to power in 1959, leading a guerrilla force that toppled cuba's u.s.-backed dictator. at first he championed democracy. >> i did not do not agree with communist. >> reporter: but before long, established a communist state. over the